Unlike the usually unwelcome third person in the three’s-a-crowd equation, the third sector is a godsend.
In recent years, the term “third sector” has emerged to describe the nonprofit sector and to point out its special role when compared to the public (government) and private (for profit) sectors.
However, at times many seem to get the notion that this sector is also relegated to third place in the pecking order, and sometimes may appear unsustainable when it comes to financials.
We don’t see it that way at all and look to nonprofits as leaders in advancing a community’s or a county’s social and economic well-being.
Or in the case of a new collaborative project by all 14 separate United Way organizations in West Virginia, an entire state’s quality of life.
This week, a revitalized statewide 2-1-1 information line began taking calls. The number is a hotline for resource information that runs the gamut of social services.
The new 2-1-1 call provider will take the calls 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including during business hours, and then direct the caller to their local United Way agency.
The specialists answering the calls will be trained to also link callers to health and human service information as well as referrals in their communities.
Perhaps the real blessing is talking to a live person trained to provide updated information on such resources, for help rather than an automated calling system or just leaving a voice mail.
But what makes this initiative truly unique is the potential that this first-time partnering of all 14 United Ways in the state represents.
As a rule, nonprofits, like the public and private sectors, can at times be competitive or territorial. So whenever, so many United Ways, which probably represent hundreds of social service agencies, get on the same page about a project that is encouraging.
Most important, it clearly is in the best interest of all West Virginians and not just one agency’s track record or the quality of life in one region of the state.
As one United Way official put it recently, “Community development leads to economic development.”
We urge the state’s United Ways to continue to build partnerships on other such projects in West Virginia.
We also encourage our readers to look at information and the support services provided by 2-1-1 and their local United Way.
This resource is toll-free, confidential, updated and is responsive to people’s needs.
There’s no question that the need for these services will probably always exist.
As for designating nonprofits the third sector, instead, think of them more as the charm for getting help.
Morgantown Area News
'Saturday, September 7, 2024'
